Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Peo on January 20, 2013, 04:17:17 PM

Title: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 20, 2013, 04:17:17 PM
Hello folks =]

I mailed BN and got a nice answer about Black Hawks but,
i forgott asking what to compare BH's output to,
so i hope you in this forum have the answer to that.

My only referens i have is S.Duncan JD/Distorsion/Invader and Dimarzio D'activator X,
and they are just to much when it comes to output.

//Peo
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: ericsabbath on January 20, 2013, 05:37:57 PM
I'm curious about that too

how it compares to big sounding ceramics, like the dimarzio super distortion and super 2, gibson 500t, PRS HFS and tremonti

and of course, the other ceramic BKPs, which aren't as hot as those
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: EffigyForgotten on January 20, 2013, 09:13:23 PM
My only reference is on my amp my gain was on like 6/7 with an 81, any higher and the tone would become loose and mushy, with my Holy Diver all the gain is usable and tight at any setting. Id imagine the Blackhawk being around the output of a duncan custom or full shred, I wouldn't worry about it though.
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Kiichi on January 21, 2013, 01:15:56 AM
Output whise it should be around that.

BKPs generally seem lower gain than some of the other PUs out there though, which is due to their clarity. With BKPs you alway gotta turn the gain up a little more in to get the same result, but when you get it it is sooooo much better.
If you are lacking output, get a Zves Super Hard On (or a clone of that, you can also DIY) which is the best clean boost I have enountered (before I went mostly DIY I got one from Juansolo which I put inside a guitar....bloody great stuff).
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 21, 2013, 05:56:37 AM
Output whise it should be around that.

BKPs generally seem lower gain than some of the other PUs out there though, which is due to their clarity. With BKPs you alway gotta turn the gain up a little more in to get the same result, but when you get it it is sooooo much better.
If you are lacking output, get a Zves Super Hard On (or a clone of that, you can also DIY) which is the best clean boost I have enountered (before I went mostly DIY I got one from Juansolo which I put inside a guitar....bloody great stuff).

Thanks for your answer, just what i want to read, that BKPs has lesser output  :D
I have so much gain, so i dont need any pedals, just weaker pups..
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: ericsabbath on January 21, 2013, 06:00:57 AM
I've been using a juansolo baby boobtube as a clean booster (always on!) and a maxon tbo-9 for the heavier rhythms and leads, mainly with my riff raff/mule loaded les paul custom
oh the tones...  :D :D :D :D :D :D

still curious about the black hawk actual output and voicing, though
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 21, 2013, 06:09:00 AM
I've been using a juansolo baby boobtube as a clean booster (always on!) and a maxon tbo-9 for the heavier rhythms and leads, mainly with my riff raff/mule loaded les paul custom
oh the tones...  :D :D :D :D :D :D

still curious about the black hawk actual output and voicing, though


From my mail i got from BK:
Black Hawk  is powerful, smooth, very clear and lots of sustain and harmonics.

Just what i want, an clear/open sounding pup with lots of all the goodies  :)
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: braintheory on January 21, 2013, 06:53:04 AM
From my mail i got from BK:
Black Hawk  is powerful, smooth, very clear and lots of sustain and harmonics.

Just what i want, an clear/open sounding pup with lots of all the goodies  :)
I completely agree with that description.  I have a set of black hawks in a jackson sl2h soloist.  The black hawk also has a big and defined bottom end, but as the description said the bh is too smooth and polished for my tastes.  I compared the bh to my miracle man and aftermath and both were way more raw and aggressive than the black hawk.  On power chords the black hawk's didn't have any grain, grindiness, or character compared to the miracle man or aftermath.  The BH neck also was bland and lacking character compared my cold sweat, painkiller, and motor city detroiter.
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on January 21, 2013, 11:38:04 PM
I have found that the BH is like a much clearer sounding Mule, but on steroids, which makes sense as it's 42 gauge wire with a 9k ohm DC resistance
It has more push but isn't as mid focussed - I sense that it pushes as hard as an Emerald or Abraxas or approaching a Cold Sweat/Rebel Yell, but isn;t as coloured tonally.
It's almost a bit Hi-Fi, almost like the definition of an active low impedance pickup would be when not deliberately coloured by it's internal circuitry like the EMG81 or EMG85

I like it - especially in a guitar that has a boatload of natural mids of it's own - would sound great in an LP

Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 22, 2013, 08:22:48 AM
I have found that the BH is like a much clearer sounding Mule, but on steroids, which makes sense as it's 42 gauge wire with a 9k ohm DC resistance
It has more push but isn't as mid focussed - I sense that it pushes as hard as an Emerald or Abraxas or approaching a Cold Sweat/Rebel Yell, but isn;t as coloured tonally.
It's almost a bit Hi-Fi, almost like the definition of an active low impedance pickup would be when not deliberately coloured by it's internal circuitry like the EMG81 or EMG85

I like it - especially in a guitar that has a boatload of natural mids of it's own - would sound great in an LP


Its in a LP Custom i want to swap pups.
Out goes SD JB/59 and in a set of BH's or HD/CS - still thinking  :?
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: EffigyForgotten on January 22, 2013, 08:27:16 AM
I have found that the BH is like a much clearer sounding Mule, but on steroids, which makes sense as it's 42 gauge wire with a 9k ohm DC resistance
It has more push but isn't as mid focussed - I sense that it pushes as hard as an Emerald or Abraxas or approaching a Cold Sweat/Rebel Yell, but isn;t as coloured tonally.
It's almost a bit Hi-Fi, almost like the definition of an active low impedance pickup would be when not deliberately coloured by it's internal circuitry like the EMG81 or EMG85

I like it - especially in a guitar that has a boatload of natural mids of it's own - would sound great in an LP


Its in a LP Custom i want to swap pups.
Out goes SD JB/59 and in a set of BH's or HD/CS - still thinking  :?
What music do you play?
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 22, 2013, 08:44:28 AM
I have found that the BH is like a much clearer sounding Mule, but on steroids, which makes sense as it's 42 gauge wire with a 9k ohm DC resistance
It has more push but isn't as mid focussed - I sense that it pushes as hard as an Emerald or Abraxas or approaching a Cold Sweat/Rebel Yell, but isn;t as coloured tonally.
It's almost a bit Hi-Fi, almost like the definition of an active low impedance pickup would be when not deliberately coloured by it's internal circuitry like the EMG81 or EMG85

I like it - especially in a guitar that has a boatload of natural mids of it's own - would sound great in an LP


Its in a LP Custom i want to swap pups.
Out goes SD JB/59 and in a set of BH's or HD/CS - still thinking  :?
What music do you play?
Old school metalstyles in a modern sound.
I guess you all would recomend HD/CS, but i like the *hifi thing* in BH's to - tuff choice  :)
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: EffigyForgotten on January 22, 2013, 09:13:11 AM
I have found that the BH is like a much clearer sounding Mule, but on steroids, which makes sense as it's 42 gauge wire with a 9k ohm DC resistance
It has more push but isn't as mid focussed - I sense that it pushes as hard as an Emerald or Abraxas or approaching a Cold Sweat/Rebel Yell, but isn;t as coloured tonally.
It's almost a bit Hi-Fi, almost like the definition of an active low impedance pickup would be when not deliberately coloured by it's internal circuitry like the EMG81 or EMG85

I like it - especially in a guitar that has a boatload of natural mids of it's own - would sound great in an LP


Its in a LP Custom i want to swap pups.
Out goes SD JB/59 and in a set of BH's or HD/CS - still thinking  :?
What music do you play?
Old school metalstyles in a modern sound.
I guess you all would recomend HD/CS, but i like the *hifi thing* in BH's to - tuff choice  :)
"Old school" can fit a huge range, old school death metal? Thrash metal? Heavy metal? Power metal? Holy Diver is described as a old school tone with modern traits, sort of vintage modern.
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 22, 2013, 09:44:04 AM
 What music do you play?
[/quote]
Old school metalstyles in a modern sound.
I guess you all would recomend HD/CS, but i like the *hifi thing* in BH's to - tuff choice  :)
[/quote] "Old school" can fit a huge range, old school death metal? Thrash metal? Heavy metal? Power metal? Holy Diver is described as a old school tone with modern traits, sort of vintage modern.
[/quote]

U can find elements of every style you wrote + melodic speed and hair metal in our songs, i just call it old school =]
I know HD is voiced to older styles, but versatility is also a important factor.
Neutral voicing with hifi-character is not an bad idea when playning lots of styles i guess...
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: EffigyForgotten on January 22, 2013, 10:36:26 AM
What music do you play?
Old school metalstyles in a modern sound.
I guess you all would recomend HD/CS, but i like the *hifi thing* in BH's to - tuff choice  :)
[/quote] "Old school" can fit a huge range, old school death metal? Thrash metal? Heavy metal? Power metal? Holy Diver is described as a old school tone with modern traits, sort of vintage modern.
[/quote]

U can find elements of every style you wrote + melodic speed and hair metal in our songs, i just call it old school =]
I know HD is voiced to older styles, but versatility is also a important factor.
Neutral voicing with hifi-character is not an bad idea when playning lots of styles i guess...
[/quote] Id go for the Holy Diver no question, compared to Duncans or Dimarzios all BKP's are "hi-fi"
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 23, 2013, 02:50:18 PM
Hello there again  :D

Where near to buy HD/CS to my LPC but,
did just order a Kemper Profiling Amplifier PowerRack.

So with all the veratility Kempern has in sound, i want a pickup to match Kempers versatility.

Am i wrong, when i guess Black Hawk is more versatile than Holy Diver ??
Plz, if so, do explian why i'm wrong  :o
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on January 23, 2013, 03:21:49 PM
It all depends on what you want to play, but I'd say that the HD is a bit more of a one trick pony than the Blackhawk.
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 23, 2013, 03:38:06 PM
It all depends on what you want to play, but I'd say that the HD is a bit more of a one trick pony than the Blackhawk.

well, use a kemper for 1 style seems overkill to me, so BH it is !!

Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Kiichi on January 23, 2013, 10:53:06 PM
Be sure to give us a review of the Kemper if you please will, as I think I am not the only one interrested in those.
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: EffigyForgotten on January 24, 2013, 07:37:35 AM
It all depends on what you want to play, but I'd say that the HD is a bit more of a one trick pony than the Blackhawk.

well, use a kemper for 1 style seems overkill to me, so BH it is !!
A high output ceramic humbucker cannot be more versatile than an alnico medium high output humbucker. I can play anything from prog rock to brutal death metal on the HD, but if you already bought it i'm sure you will be happy with it
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Peo on January 24, 2013, 02:13:36 PM
It all depends on what you want to play, but I'd say that the HD is a bit more of a one trick pony than the Blackhawk.

well, use a kemper for 1 style seems overkill to me, so BH it is !!
A high output ceramic humbucker cannot be more versatile than an alnico medium high output humbucker. I can play anything from prog rock to brutal death metal on the HD, but if you already bought it i'm sure you will be happy with it
No i havent bought yet, still thinking and struggle with my feelings.
A 3:rd option is now givin me headache  C-bomb/CS and in what guitars  :?
Have 2 LPC, 2 Flying V and 1 Explorer, and i play on all - have no mainguitar.
So i have some brainwork to do, before ordering  :)
Title: Re: Black Hawks
Post by: Sarkasis on January 25, 2013, 09:47:13 PM
The most interesting thing about the Black Hawk to me is that it can come in alnico. It's the only one of the triple magnet designs to do that so far. Might be nice to have the tightness and chime in the highs they all seem to have while having the alnico smoothness.